Teresa Tatum at RE/MAX Renaissance Realtors in Chattanooga: Buyer and Seller Agent in the Downtown and North Shore Market
Teresa Tatum is a real estate agent at RE/MAX Renaissance Realtors, a locally operated brokerage serving Chattanooga buyers and sellers across residential properties from entry-level homes to investment portfolios. She focuses on the downtown core, North Shore, and surrounding neighborhoods where property values and buyer profiles vary significantly block to block. RE/MAX Renaissance operates on the standard agent commission model: sellers typically pay 5 to 6 percent of the sale price split between listing and buyer's agents, while buyers pay nothing directly (their agent's commission comes from the seller's proceeds). Understanding how agents earn money and what that means for your representation is essential to making an informed choice in Chattanooga's market.
How Real Estate Agents Are Paid and What That Means for Your Representation
In the United States, including Chattanooga, real estate agents are paid commission on closed sales, not hourly or by flat fee. The seller's agent lists the property and typically negotiates a commission rate with the homeowner (most commonly 5 to 6 percent of the final sale price). That commission is split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent, and both agents' brokerages take a percentage cut before the agent receives their portion. This structure means a buyer's agent costs you nothing out of pocket, but it also creates an incentive: all agents, regardless of whose side they represent, earn more money when the sale price is higher. A buyer's agent has a fiduciary duty to you, meaning they are legally required to put your interests first, but understanding the payment model helps you evaluate advice critically. With Tatum, like any Chattanooga agent, confirm explicitly whether she represents you as a buyer's agent (in which case you have her fiduciary duty) or is showing you properties on behalf of the seller before you tour homes.
Services Tatum Offers: Buying and Selling in Chattanooga's Mixed Market
Tatum works both sides of transactions. For buyers, she helps identify properties within budget, schedules showings, prepares offers, and negotiates terms. For sellers, she lists your property, stages advice (though staging details vary by agent), prices based on comparable sales, and markets through MLS and RE/MAX systems. She can connect clients with lenders and inspectors, though those services come from third parties, not her firm directly. RE/MAX Renaissance, like other full-service brokerages in Chattanooga, requires that all transactions go through the MLS, meaning your property or search is not confined to one agent's inventory. Pricing in Chattanooga varies sharply: North Shore and downtown properties near the Riverwalk or high-rise developments command 20 to 40 percent premiums over comparable square footage in outer neighborhoods. A 1,500-square-foot converted warehouse loft downtown might list at $400,000 to $500,000, while a similar footprint in Hixson or East Brainerd could be $250,000 to $320,000. Tatum's strength lies in understanding these micro-markets rather than offering one-size-fit-all advice.
Choosing Between Tatum and Other Chattanooga Agents: When Specialization Matters
Chattanooga has hundreds of licensed agents spread across national franchises (Keller Williams, Century 21, Coldwell Banker), local independents, and smaller brokerages. The difference between agents matters more than the brokerage name. Some agents specialize in investment properties and cash-flow analysis; others focus on new construction or luxury homes above $1 million; still others work primarily with relocating corporate clients or first-time buyers. Tatum's focus on downtown and North Shore neighborhoods gives her advantage if you are buying or selling in those areas, where walkability, proximity to restaurants and the riverfront, and noise or parking trade-offs are specific concerns. If you are buying a single-family home in Signal Mountain or Lookout Mountain, an agent based in those areas will have deeper knowledge of school zones, local covenants, and comps. If you are investing in a small multifamily building, you want an agent who has sold similar properties and understands landlord-tenant law, not just residential transactions.
What the First Appointment Involves
Your first conversation with Tatum, like any agent, should establish what you are looking for, your timeline, and (if you are a buyer) your financing status. If you are pre-approved for a mortgage, bring the letter; if you are paying cash, say so. If you are selling, she will request a tour of your home, ask about deferred maintenance, property taxes, and your bottom-line price. She will pull comparable sales (called "comps") from the MLS to justify her pricing opinion. This initial meeting is low-commitment; it incurs no obligation. Many sellers interview two or three agents before choosing one. Buyers can work with multiple agents simultaneously, though most agents expect some degree of exclusivity once you start touring homes together. Ask Tatum directly: do you expect a buyer's agent agreement, and if so, for how long?
Hours, Location, and Logistics
RE/MAX Renaissance Realtors operates during standard business hours, typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some weekend showing availability by appointment. Verify current hours and contact Tatum's direct line through RE/MAX's Chattanooga directory. Most agent communication happens via text, phone, and email rather than in-office visits. Chattanooga properties can be shown flexibly; there is no "showing time window" as in some markets. Parking and commute to showings are your responsibility, not the agent's.
Teresa Tatum brings local market knowledge specific to Chattanooga's evolving neighborhoods where online listings and price per square foot tell an incomplete story. Choosing her or any agent should depend on whether her specialization matches your neighborhood and whether you trust her communication style.
